Influence of Surface Functional Groups on the Hair Growth-Promoting Activities of Nanochitins: An In Vitro Analysis

November 2025 in “ Biomacromolecules ”

Chunsheng Fu, Lihua Chen, Liang Liu, Xingyu Yi, Yimin Fan, Yishan Wang, Chen Shen, Min Sha, Chunyu Cao, Chunsheng Fu, Lihua Chen, Liang Liu, Xingyu Yi, Yimin Fan, Yishan Wang, Chen Shen, Min Sha, Chunyu Cao

nanochitin partially deacetylated nanochitin hydrochloric acid hydrolyzed nanochitin phosphoric acid hydrolyzed nanochitin amphoteric nanochitin VEGF FGF-7 angiogenesis dermal repair DNCh HNCh PNCh ANCh vascular endothelial growth factor fibroblast growth factor 7

TLDR Nanochitins, especially DNCh and PNCh, effectively promote hair growth.

The study investigates the impact of different surface functional groups on nanochitins and their ability to promote hair growth. Four types of nanochitins were developed, all showing biocompatibility, with partially deacetylated nanochitin (DNCh) having the highest survival rate. These nanochitins can regulate the secretion of growth factors like VEGF and FGF-7, which are important for angiogenesis and dermal repair. Hydrochloric acid hydrolyzed nanochitin (HNCh) showed the strongest effect in increasing VEGF levels by 30%. In mouse models, all nanochitins promoted hair growth, with DNCh and phosphoric acid hydrolyzed nanochitin (PNCh) showing superior results in terms of earlier and denser hair shaft emergence. Amphoteric nanochitin (ANCh) provided the most balanced overall effect.

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